Tuesday, December 2, 2014

cranberry orange muffins . . . simple bakery style muffins



Can you believe it's December?!

I took off a few days from blogging to recoup from a busy, busy Thanksgiving week.

Our 5 and 6-year-old were out of school all week, so that made for a busier house with entertaining them and working on Thanksgiving Dinner preparations.  

By the time Friday arrived, all I could do was dream of enjoying a hot vanilla brulee and relaxing on the couch.   

And so I did! I enjoyed a quiet, relaxed morning . . .  and watched lots of holiday cooking shows, which got me excited for Christmas . . . and all the amazing baking (and giving) that happens through December! 






I don't know about you, but I host more casual and formal gatherings during the holiday season than any other time of year . . . and my favorite time of day to host is late morning for brunch. 

I like to include an assortment of muffins and scones to my menu for those looking for something a little sweet to add to their plate . . . 
                and this amazing recipe from Cook's Illustrated is my 'go to' . . . and yields tender and moist bakery style muffins.





The pops of bright pinkish-red cranberries and specks of orange zest pair up with a sweet, crunchy raw sugar top . . . making this a delicious holiday-inspired muffin!

I hope you and your family and friends enjoy them as much as we do!

Happy holiday baking!




cranberry orange muffins
.     .     .     .     .     .
3 cups (15 ounces) all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cups, PLUS 3 Tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups plain low fat yogurt
Zest of 1 large orange
2 cups fresh cranberries, chopped
2 Tablespoon confectioners' sugar
raw sugar
.     .     .     .     .     .


Preparation
Adjust oven rack to lower middle position and heave oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray (or use liners) 12-cup muffin tin with vegetable oil spray.

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

Coarsely chop cranberries and toss with 2 Tablespoon confectioners' sugar. Set aside.

Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low and add dry ingredients in 2 additions, alternating with 3 additions of yogurt, scraping down bowl as needed.

Fold in orange zest and chopped cranberries.

Using ice cream scoop or large spoon, divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. using a teaspoon, generously sprinkle raw sugar on top of muffin batter.

Bake until muffins are golden brown and toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out with few crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating muffin tin halfway through baking.

Remove muffins from the time and set on a wire rack. Let cool for 5 minutes. Serve.

* I prefer baking muffins in LARGE muffin tins to give them that home-made, luscious home-baked appearance.






LET'S STAY in touch!




Sharing with . . . .

Stephanie Lynn, It's Overflowing, Twelve O Eight, Carrie This Home, Baking in Pajamas, Huckleberry Love, Dwellings, Smart Party Planning,  The Dedicated HouseMod Vintage LifeLori's Culinary Creations, Home Stories, StoneGableAn Extraordinary Day, I'm Not a Trophy Wife, Between Naps on the Front Porch, Rustic Refined,  Tumbleweed ContessaA Stroll Thru Life,Life With GarnishElizabeth & Co,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern StyleThe Recipe CriticJanine HuldieCarolyn's Homework,  Fluster Buster   Designs by Miss Mandee,  Craftie Allie,  Wednesday morning The Blissful Bee,  The Newlywed Pilgrimage Chic California, Lamberts LatelyLive Laugh RoweSweet Bella Roos, The Charm of Home, From My Front Porch to ours, Delightsome Life.Posed PerfectionKatherine's CornerNancherrowThe Freshman Cook,  Jann OlsonHome  Maid SimpleAnderson + Grant,  Rooted in ThymeEveryday Enchanted Home, Pure Grace Farms A Dish of Daily Life, Bacon Time, Sunflower Supper Club, Tater Tots and Jello,  Cooking with CurlsMade from PinterestSimply Gloria





12 comments:

  1. Glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. My kids were home for the entire week too. It was so nice to just chill!! Your muffins look delicious. I love those flavors together.

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  2. This looks delicious! I love cranberry anything this time of year. :) I'm glad you had a great Thanksgving break! Thanks for stopping by to wish me a happy Thanksgiving. You're so sweet!

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  3. Relaxing on the sofa watching holiday cooking shows (and eating these muffins) sounds like a dream! I might have to make it happen this weekend. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I think I'll come back and try these soon. They look wonderful

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  5. Yeah, I'm gonna have to get on these asap!

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  6. Um, ya this is on my Christmas breakfast list!

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  7. These sound so good. I love cooking with cranberries.
    Bev

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  8. Anonymous9:56 AM

    Two of my favourite flavours together in one muffin, they look scrumptious Suzanne! Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! Laura@Baking in Pyjamas

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  9. How seasonally delicious and I love the sugar tops. Pinned. Thanks for sharing this with us on Weekend Bites.

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  10. These muffins are a must try...they look so delicious.

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  11. These look so delicious Suzannne! I just bought cranberries yesterday so I'm going to make them and freeze them for Christmas morning! (I'm going to feature this recipe in a roundup of inspiration today, as there were too many awesome posts from our link up party that I wanted to feature lots more!)! Thanks for always linking up with us! Have a very Merry Christmas Suzanne!
    Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com

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  12. Oh man, those look amazing! I love the combination of orange and cranberry. The addition of the sugar sprinkled on top looks so pretty, too. Pinning! Thanks for sharing at On Display Thursday!
    -Leia @ Eat It & Say Yum

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